SALT LAKE CITY –– On Aug. 27, a Salt Lake City police officer stopped what could have been a disaster. He fatally shot a heavily-armed soldier outside of the Grand America Hotel, whom investigators believe had a deadly plan.

Tuesday the Salt Lake City district attorney cleared the officer of any wrongdoing, and the mayor and the chief of police honored him.

Officer Uppson Downes says luck was on his side when he saw Brandon Barrett armed outside of the Grand America Hotel.

But he was a lot more than lucky: He was well trained and in the right place at the right time.

On Aug. 27, police say Barrett –– a U.S. Army deserter –– went to the hotel on a mission.

Police say he had told friends and posted on Facebook that they should watch the news in Salt Lake City, because he was going to be famous and something big was going to happen.

Officer Downes, 34, happened to be driving on State Street and was stopped at the light on 600 South that afternoon when civilians started banging on his patrol car.

He pulled over and spotted Barrett.

As soon as Barrett saw Downes, he opened fire –– striking the officer in the leg and sending at least six rounds into his car.

When Downes had a clear shot at Barrett, he took it.

He fired three shots, all from about 75 feet away. One of the bullets hit Barrett in the head –– in one of the only parts of his body not protected with military armor.

A civilian was also given the Public Service Award for her role in stopping Barrett from entering the hotel.

Robyn Salmon works security at the Grand America Hotel. She saw Barrett in the hotel in full combat armor camouflage that afternoon. Police say Barrett was well armed from head to toe with more than a thousand rounds of ammunition, a rifle with a scope, and two handguns.

Salmon asked Barrett to leave. He instead asked for access to the roof of the building, which he tried to get to after parking his car in the basement lot moments before. Salmon refused and escorted him out the door, his handgun drawn.

That's when Officer Downes first saw Barrett.

"I did ask him to drop his weapon, and he didn't even wait for me to finish before he decided to open fire," Downes said.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office issued a letter to the Salt Lake City Police Department stating the shooting of Barrett by one of their officers was lawful. After an investigation, the district attorney ruled Downes' actions did not violate state law.

District Attorney Lohra Miller announced Monday that Downes' use of lethal force was justified, saying in a release, "In this instance, Mr. Barrett continued (to) advance toward the officer, displayed aggression with a weapon, and refusal to comply with the responding officer's commands made the responding officer reasonably believe the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death to himself."

Downes himself is a veteran, serving six years in the military before becoming a police officer. He has only been with the Salt Lake City Police Department for a year.

Update: Source says Barret got a DUI on base and went AWOL, stealing an M16 and some other gear. (Anyone help me with this? I thought they would all be locked up in the armory?) He left a note for is CO's

Came to Utah and had planned to gain access to the hotel (probably one of the best/most expensive) in town shoot people from an elevated location inside or on the hotel.

Correction on the first account...It was the male officer who was originally hit who dispatched Barret. Amazing shooting, facing down a "soldier" in combat load including rifle, from 20 yards away. Definitely a do or die time for those head shots.

SALT LAKE CITY –– A Salt Lake City police officer shot and killed a man in a busy downtown intersection. New photos show the suspect was in full military gear and armed to the teeth.

The shootout happened just before 4 p.m. Friday at 600 South and State Street after police received a call about a man with a gun walking back and forth along State Street in the vicinity of the Grand America Hotel.

Within seconds of Salt Lake City officers arriving on scene, shots were fired. Witnesses reported hearing about 10 or 12 shots.
A man lies dead after shooting a police officer in the leg outside of the Grand America Hotel in downtown Friday in Salt Lake City. (Tom Smart, Deseret News)

The officer, a patrolman who's been with the department several years, was shot in the leg. He in turn, shot and killed the the suspect.

"The officer has very minor injuries at this point, so we're happy about that," said Sgt. Robin Snyder with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Late Friday night, police identified the man who was killed as 28-year-old Brandon S. Barrett. They say he is believed to be a U.S. Army veteran most recently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash.

A photo taken by Desert News photographer Tom Smart shows Barrett's body on the ground with 11 clips of ammunition strapped to him, a helmet barely visible, but an ISAF patch clearly visible. ISAF stands for International Security Assistance Force –– a NATO led team conducting operations in Afghanistan.

Witnesses say they saw Barrett in full military fatigues, black combat boots and a mask, carrying an assault rifle.
"I heard that the store manager said, ‘Get in the back, there's shooting outside,' so they had us go hide in the back." - Jamie Davis, local store owner

According to the Deseret News, Barrett told two witnesses in the parking lot of the hotel he was "in training."

All things considered, police say it's a wonder no one else was hurt.

"This is probably one of the busiest intersections in Salt Lake City, especially the time of day. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon," Snyder said.

Salt Lake City resident Jessica Cook was cleaning her house when she thought she heard shots.

"My music is so loud, and I heard the gunshot over the music," she said.

She was shocked to find officers up and down the street she lives and works on.

The owner of a clothing store said he looked outside to see armed officers with what he thought were AK-47 assault rifles.

"I heard that the store manager said, ‘Get in the back, there's shooting outside,' so they had us go hide in the back," Jamie Davis said.

Several bullets hit the windshield of the police officer's car, as well as in the sides of at least one vehicle that was in the area at the time.

Police say two investigations have been opened following this incident. The first will be handled by internal affairs that will look into the actions of the officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave. The second is a criminal investigation that will be launched by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.

These kind of investigations are standard procedure for such incidents.

"If people insist on photoshops that have nothing to do with anything but racial stereotypes - like Obama dressed like a pimp, eating watermelon and asking where the white wimmenz are at - then that thread will be locked too."DK-Prof

SALT LAKE CITY –– A Salt Lake City police officer shot and killed a man in a busy downtown intersection. New photos show the suspect was in full military gear and armed to the teeth.

The shootout happened just before 4 p.m. Friday at 600 South and State Street after police received a call about a man with a gun walking back and forth along State Street in the vicinity of the Grand America Hotel.

Within seconds of Salt Lake City officers arriving on scene, shots were fired. Witnesses reported hearing about 10 or 12 shots.
A man lies dead after shooting a police officer in the leg outside of the Grand America Hotel in downtown Friday in Salt Lake City. (Tom Smart, Deseret News)

The officer, a patrolman who's been with the department several years, was shot in the leg. He in turn, shot and killed the the suspect.

"The officer has very minor injuries at this point, so we're happy about that," said Sgt. Robin Snyder with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Late Friday night, police identified the man who was killed as 28-year-old Brandon S. Barrett. They say he is believed to be a U.S. Army veteran most recently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash.

A photo taken by Desert News photographer Tom Smart shows Barrett's body on the ground with 11 clips of ammunition strapped to him, a helmet barely visible, but an ISAF patch clearly visible. ISAF stands for International Security Assistance Force –– a NATO led team conducting operations in Afghanistan.

Witnesses say they saw Barrett in full military fatigues, black combat boots and a mask, carrying an assault rifle.
"I heard that the store manager said, ‘Get in the back, there's shooting outside,' so they had us go hide in the back." - Jamie Davis, local store owner

According to the Deseret News, Barrett told two witnesses in the parking lot of the hotel he was "in training."

All things considered, police say it's a wonder no one else was hurt.

"This is probably one of the busiest intersections in Salt Lake City, especially the time of day. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon," Snyder said.

Salt Lake City resident Jessica Cook was cleaning her house when she thought she heard shots.

"My music is so loud, and I heard the gunshot over the music," she said.

She was shocked to find officers up and down the street she lives and works on.

The owner of a clothing store said he looked outside to see armed officers with what he thought were AK-47 assault rifles.

"I heard that the store manager said, ‘Get in the back, there's shooting outside,' so they had us go hide in the back," Jamie Davis said.

Several bullets hit the windshield of the police officer's car, as well as in the sides of at least one vehicle that was in the area at the time.

Police say two investigations have been opened following this incident. The first will be handled by internal affairs that will look into the actions of the officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave. The second is a criminal investigation that will be launched by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.

These kind of investigations are standard procedure for such incidents.

Everything is an ak!

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. -- Thomas Jefferson

I fail to see where i should care about an army deserter that went nuts and shot up a intersection/cop. Let alone a guy in full combat gear that is obviously out there to cause nothing but harm, harm to others, harm to himself, and harm to gunowners everywhere, the media loves to eat this shit up. Let alone the spin that all vets are unstable and should not have gun rights anyways that seems to be so popular these days. So if my interjection of levity is not appreciated i apologize to anyone it offended.

SALT LAKE CITY –– A Salt Lake City police officer shot and killed a man in a busy downtown intersection. New photos show the suspect was in full military gear and armed to the teeth.

The shootout happened just before 4 p.m. Friday at 600 South and State Street after police received a call about a man with a gun walking back and forth along State Street in the vicinity of the Grand America Hotel.

Within seconds of Salt Lake City officers arriving on scene, shots were fired. Witnesses reported hearing about 10 or 12 shots.
A man lies dead after shooting a police officer in the leg outside of the Grand America Hotel in downtown Friday in Salt Lake City. (Tom Smart, Deseret News)

The officer, a patrolman who's been with the department several years, was shot in the leg. He in turn, shot and killed the the suspect.

"The officer has very minor injuries at this point, so we're happy about that," said Sgt. Robin Snyder with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Late Friday night, police identified the man who was killed as 28-year-old Brandon S. Barrett. They say he is believed to be a U.S. Army veteran most recently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash.

A photo taken by Desert News photographer Tom Smart shows Barrett's body on the ground with 11 clips of ammunition strapped to him, a helmet barely visible, but an ISAF patch clearly visible. ISAF stands for International Security Assistance Force –– a NATO led team conducting operations in Afghanistan.

Witnesses say they saw Barrett in full military fatigues, black combat boots and a mask, carrying an assault rifle.
"I heard that the store manager said, ‘Get in the back, there's shooting outside,' so they had us go hide in the back." - Jamie Davis, local store owner

According to the Deseret News, Barrett told two witnesses in the parking lot of the hotel he was "in training."

All things considered, police say it's a wonder no one else was hurt.

"This is probably one of the busiest intersections in Salt Lake City, especially the time of day. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon," Snyder said.

Salt Lake City resident Jessica Cook was cleaning her house when she thought she heard shots.

"My music is so loud, and I heard the gunshot over the music," she said.

She was shocked to find officers up and down the street she lives and works on.

The owner of a clothing store said he looked outside to see armed officers with what he thought were AK-47 assault rifles.

"I heard that the store manager said, ‘Get in the back, there's shooting outside,' so they had us go hide in the back," Jamie Davis said.

Several bullets hit the windshield of the police officer's car, as well as in the sides of at least one vehicle that was in the area at the time.

Police say two investigations have been opened following this incident. The first will be handled by internal affairs that will look into the actions of the officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave. The second is a criminal investigation that will be launched by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.

These kind of investigations are standard procedure for such incidents.

"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independance from any who might attempt to abuse them, which also includes their own government." - George Washington